Roar

Author

Noel Marshall

Call Number

• DVD ACTION (CEN)

Performers

Tippi Hedren, Melanie Griffith, John Marshall, Jerry Marshall, Noel Marshall, Kyalo Mativo.

Publication Information

[Austin, TX] : Drafthouse Films, [2015]

Physical Description

1 videodisc (94 minutes) : sound, color ; 4 3/4 in.

Audience

Not rated.

Summary

Produced over the course of ten years, Roar is an audacious cinematic experiment: a thriller showcasing the majesty and ferocity of African lions, filmed on location amidst dozens of actual untrained cats. Photographed by Jan De Bont, the result is a spectacular achievement--though often terrifying to watch--as actors (not stunt men) flee, wrestle, and come face-to-face with the massive hunters. Writer/director Noel Marshall stars as Hank, a doctor and outspoken naturalist in Africa who allows lions, tigers, cheetahs, and other big cats to roam freely around his remote estate. While away protecting animals from poachers, Hank's family--including Marshall's real-life wife and daughter, Tippi Hedren and Melanie Griffith--arrive at his home and are stalked by the massive lions that have overrun the house. Not surprisingly, many members of the cast and crew suffered injuries during the making of the film, though care was taken to ensure that no animals were harmed. Since filming Roar, Hedren has become an advocate for the protection of big cats, founding the Roar Foundation and the Shambala Preserve.

Notes

Title from container.

DVD release of a 2015 HD restoration of the motion picture produced in 1981.

Bonus features: The making of Roar ; Q&A with cast and crew at the Cinefamily, Los Angeles, CA (4/17/2015) ; The grandeur of Roar : an essay / by Tim League ; photo gallery ; audio commentary with John Marshall and Tim League.